Transnational fans groups have revealed via a joint statement that they oppose the plans of a biennial FIFA World Cup. FIFA’s chief of global football development, Arsene Wenger is the driving force behind the plans to reduce the gap between World Cups from four years to two years. The plan was brought forward by the Saudi Arabia federation and has since been backed by 166 national associations. Jill Ellis, the former USA women’s coach was appointed to the Technical Advisory Group to consider similar plans for the women’s game.
“In the past few months, it has been widely reported that FIFA intends to hold the World Cup every two years.” a statement by the Football Supporters Europe regarding the new plans of the FIFA World Cup. “According to the organization’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger, “it’s what the fans want.” The undersigned fans’ organizations categorically refute this statement. The overwhelming majority of fans oppose a biennial World Cup cycle-and if FIFA had bothered to engage with us on the subject, they would have known this to be the case.”
“The World Cup has taken place every four years since the inaugural tournament was held in Uruguay in 1930. Why abandon almost a century’s worth of tradition on a whim and with no evidence that it will improve the global game?” he added. “On the contrary, such a move threatens to destroy the already fragile balance between local, domestic, continental, and international competitions and calendars.”
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